(09-04-13) How to prevent kidney stones with everyday foods

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Passing them is described by those who have experienced their
terror as one of the worst pains known to man, exceeding even the pain of
childbirth. But kidney stones do not have to be a constant worry on your mind,
especially if you are taking proactive nutritional steps on a daily basis to
dissolve and eliminate any that might be cropping up. Here are a few helpful
tips for preventing kidney stones with everyday foods and dietary
interventions:

1) Drink plenty of clean water. This point simply cannot be overstated, as
pure, fluoride-free water truly is the master cleanser when it comes to
maintaining clean kidneys that are free of stones and other toxic buildup.
Drinking at least four liters of water every day will not only help prevent
kidney stones from forming, but also quickly eliminate any small stones that
may have already formed. Some health practitioners also recommend drinking
distilled water to prevent and flush kidney stones.

"The single most important step for preventing kidney stones is to drink
plenty of fluids each day," explains a 2001 issue of Healthwire. "Water is best
and most physicians recommend three to four quarts daily. Patients who do no
more than increase their fluid intake cut their rate of stone recurrence by 50
percent."

2) Add fresh lemon, lime and apple cider vinegar to daily beverages. Taking
this a step further, adding fresh lemon or lime juice, or apple cider vinegar,
to your beverages throughout the day will help alkalize your body, effectively
blocking the formation of kidney stones. These alkalizing juices will also help
quickly dissolve any existing stones that might be present in your kidneys,
keeping them clean and stone-free.

"At the first symptom of stone pain, mix 2 oz of organic olive oil with 2 oz
of organic lemon juice," writes Dr. Ed Group on his Natural Health & Organic
Living Blog about how to eliminate kidney stones naturally. "Drink it straight
and follow with a 12 oz glass of purified water. Wait 30 minutes. Then, squeeze
the juice of 1/2 lemon in 12 ounces of purified water, add 1 tablespoon of
organic raw apple cider vinegar and drink. Repeat the lemon juice, water and
apple cider vinegar recipe every hour until symptoms improve."

3) Eat foods that are naturally high in calcium. This point may run contrary
to your existing line of thinking as far as kidney stones are concerned, but
natural calcium is actually beneficial for preventing kidney stones. According
to a recent study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of
Nephrology, dietary calcium actually binds with calcium oxalate, the substance
that makes up most kidney stones, and crystallizes and flushes it from the body
before it has a chance to form into stones.

Because of this, many experts recommend eating more foods that are naturally
high in calcium to prevent kidney stones. Based on actual calcium absorption
rates, the best foods in this category include leafy greens, cruciferous
vegetables, nuts and seeds, and raw, grass-fed milk and butter. As a side note,
studies have found the exclusively vegetarian diets are linked to higher rates
of kidney stones, so be sure to include saturated fats from coconut or palm
oils to help balance your fat intake if you do not eat meat products.

4) Supplement with magnesium citrate, B vitamins every day. One of the first
things that hospital ERs administer to patients admitted for kidney stone pain
is magnesium citrate, a natural mineral substance that counteracts the oxalate
minerals in many foods. For maximum kidney stone prevention, be sure to eat
plenty of magnesium-rich foods every day -- these include avocados, broccoli,
raw cacao, beans, bananas, and lentils -- and take a high-quality magnesium
citrate supplement like Natural Vitality's Natural Magnesium Calm. Also, it is
recommended to supplement with a whole food-based B vitamin complex supplement
like MegaFood's Balanced B Complex every day to prevent kidney stone formation.

5) Stop drinking soda pop. One of the worst foods you can consume for kidney
stones is soda pop beverages, which greatly acidify the body due to their high
phosphoric acid content. There is a lot of misinformation out there about soda
and its effect on kidney stones -- a 2010 study actually purported that diet
soda can help prevent kidney stones (http://www.naturalnews.
com/028814_diet_soda_kidney_stones.html) -- but the truth of the matter is that
regular consumption of soda pop is a direct contributor to kidney stones.

6) Stick to a 'low oxalate' diet. Though most of the previous recommendations
will help naturally counteract the effects of oxalates in your body, you can
also eliminate high oxalate foods from your diet if you have a propensity for
kidney stones. Such foods include black tea, grains, and certain nuts and
vegetables. You can learn more about a "low oxalate" diet by visiting:
http://www.upmc.com

Sources for this article include:

http://www.globalhealingcenter.com

http://www.naturalnews.com

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129909820

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090813170845.htm

http://www.coreperformance.com

http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/kidney_stones.html

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